Velocipede fork



1935- B. J. ANDERSON 2,010,173

VELOCIPEDE FORK Filed Dec. 21, 1934 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,173 VELOCIPEDtE FORK Bert J. Anderson, Hammond, Ind. Application December 21, 1934, Serial No. 758,626

9 Claims. (o1. 208-96) This invention relates to an improvement in a fork for a velocipede, andis a companion case to the application filed August 25, 1934, Serial Number 741,392, for a velocipede, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for producing an article which is rugged and substantial.

Another important object of this invention re- 1 sides in the production of a fork which consists of a few parts and readily lends itself to use on various types of velocipedes.

A still further important object of the invention resides in the provision of means for securing the post to the yoke without welding.

Still another important object of this invention resides in the provision of means whereby a securing screw contacts the inner surface of the post.

An additional object of importance resides in the provision of means for preventing the post from moving longitudinally into the yoke.

The invention shows other objects and features of advantage, some of which will be set forth in the following specification and attached drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the fork of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the fork and shows a portion of the fender in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the yoke.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the yoke and post and shows the relative positions of the securing apertures.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the yoke and shows the preferred shape of the aperture therein Figure 6 is a sectional view of the yoke and post assembled and is taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 11 of Figure 2.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral l0 indicates in a general way the lower portion of the fork of this invention which, in the preferred form, is constructed of a single piece of sheet metal.

The fork It! consists of a piece of sheet metal having two downwardly extending prongs. The lower ends l2 of the prongs are square and have apertures M to permit the attachment of bearings.

Extending upwardly through an aperture in the top of the fork I0 is a post l6. An elongated aperture l8 adjacent the top of the post provides a means for securing a handle bar to said post and also allows for limited adjustment of the handle bar. This aperture l8 also provides a means whereby the handle bar may be secured to the post with an ordinary set screw. However, it will be apparent that the end of the set screw will contactthe inner surface of the post, rather than the outer bearing surface. Where this means of joining the handle bar and post is used, scoring of the post, sticking in operation, 10 and excessive wear is eliminated.

Positioned within the fork and adjacent the top thereof isa yoke 20 which, in the preferred form, has two downwardly extending prongs 22 adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the 15 upper portion of the fork.

Located in the top of the yoke 20 is an oval aperture 25 in alignment with the aperture in the top of the fork.

The lower end of the post I6 is inserted through the oval aperture 24 and is there expanded, as is best shown in Figure 6.

Provision is made against any possibility of the post being forced downwardly through the yoke by the expanded portion 26 of the post. 25

The yoke 20 is preferably secured in position in the fork I I! by rivets 28. Additional rivet holes 30 through the fork and yoke are for the purpose of attaching a fender as is best shown by the dotted lines 3| in Figures 2 and '7, to the fork, and also to give added support to the rivets 28.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a fork'for a velocipede which may be economically manufactured and assembled without welding.

It will also be apparent that herein is provided a fork composed of a few simple strong parts which may be used, without alteration, on practically any velocipede on the market.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than .as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sheet metal fork for a velocipede including, an ovally apertured yoke secured to the inner surface of said fork adjacent the top thereof, a tubular post positioned in said yoke and expanded to contact the entire circumference of said oval aperture.

2. A sheet metal fork for a velocipede including, a yoke having an oval aperture in the top thereof secured to the inner surface of the fork adjacent the top, a tubular post positioned in said oval aperture, a portion of the post directly above the yoke expanded beyond the edges of said oval aperture, a portion of said post expanded to the edge of said aperture, and the end of said post expanded beyond the edge of said oval aperture.

3. A sheet metal fork for a velocipede including, a yoke having an oval aperture in the top thereof secured to the inner surface of the fork adjacent the top, a tubular post positioned in said oval aperture, a portion of the post directly above the yoke expanded beyond the edges of said oval aperture, a portion of said post ex panded to the edge of said aperture, the end of said post expanded beyond the edge of said oval aperture, and a screw receiving aperture near the top of said post, the height of said aperture being greater than the width thereof.

A fork for a velocipede including, two downwardly extending prongs, an irregularly apertured yoke positioned between said prongs and adjacent the top thereof, a post positioned in the aperture of said yoke and extending above the top of said prongs, and means formed of portions of the post above said yoke to prevent longitudinal movement of the yoke thereon.

5. A fork for a velocipede including, two downwardly extending parallel prongs formed of a single member, .an irregularly apertured yoke positioned between said prongs adjacent the top thereof, a tubular post secured to said yoke, said post being bulged above and below its contact point with said yoke, and receiving means on each prong for a fender securing member.

6. A fork for a velocipede including, a stamping apertured in the central portion thereof, the

portion of the stamping on each side of said aperture being turned downwardly and spaced apart, an irregularly apertured yoke secured near the top of said fork, a tubular post adapted to receive a handle bar extending upwardly from said central aperture, a portion of said post being expanded to contact all edges of the irregular aperture in said fork, and means adjacent the top of said post to receive a handle bar securing member.

7. A fork for a velocipede including, a stamping apertured in the central portion thereof, the portion of the stamping on each side of said aperture being turned downwardly and spaced apart, an ovally apertured yoke secured near the top of said fork, a tubular post adapted to receive a handle bar extending upwardly from said central aperture, said tubular post being secured in position by expanding a portion to fill said oval aperture and bulging portions thereof directly above and below said oval aperture, and adjustable means adjacent the top of said post to receive a handle bar securing member.

8. An apertured stamping having two downwardly extending prongs, a yoke positioned between said prongs adjacent the top, a tubular post secured to said yoke, and means in said post to allow limited vertical movement of a handle bar securing member.

9. In a yoke for an apertured velocipede fork, a member substantially rectangular in plan formation and having downwardly turned edges, downwardly extending prongs on opposed sides of said member, and portions of the edge of said aperture being at irregular distances from the center thereof.

BERT J. ANDERSON. 

